Electrochemically generated bimetallic reductive mediator Cu[Ni(CN)] for the degradation of CF to ethanol by electro-scrubbing.

Remediation of electronic gas CF using commercially available technologies results in another kind of greenhouse gas and corrosive side products. This investigation aimed to develop CF removal at room temperature with formation of useful product by attempting an electrogenerated Cu[Ni(CN)] mediator. The initial electrolysis of the bimetallic complex at the anodized Ti cathode demonstrated Cu[Ni(CN)] formation, which was confirmed by additional electron spin resonance results. The degradation of CF followed mediated electrochemical reduction by electrogenerated Cu[Ni(CN)]. The removal efficiency of CF of 95% was achieved by this electroscrubbing process at room temperature. The spectral results of online and offline Fourier transform infrared analyzer, either in gas or in solution phase, demonstrated that the product formed during the removal of CF by electrogenerated Cu[Ni(CN)] by electroscrubbing was ethanol (CHCHOH), with a small amount of trifluoroethane (CFCH) intermediate.